GASTROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF SMALLANTHUS MACROSCYPHUS LEAVES IN ULCERATION MODELS

TABOADA F¨¦LIX FACUNDO; HABIB, NATALIA; GENTA, SUSANA B.

Horco Molle, Tucumán

Jornada; XXXII Jornadas Científicas de la ABT; 2015

The wild yacon, Smallanthus macroscyphus (Bakerex Martius) A. Grau is an autochthonous perennial herb distributed fromsouthern Bolivia to northwestern Argentina. The peptic ulcer is an increasingdisorder resulting of the imbalance between offensive and defensive factors inthe gastric mucosa and the search for new treatments is a current challenge.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vivo gastroprotective and antisecretory effects of the aqueous extract of S. macroscyphus leaves. Twomodels of induced gastric ulcers in male Wistar rats, ethanol and pylorusligation, were used. The experimental groups (n=6 animals) were: 1-Control, 2-Positivecontrols received Sucralfate or Ranitidin (100mg/Kg, orally) 3-Treated  with aqueous extract of S. macroscyphus leaves (140mg/kg, orally). Mucuscontent and ulceration parameters (number of ulcers, severity and ulceratedarea percentage) were determined. Chemical and microscopic study of gastriccontents and histological studies were performed. S. macroscyphus extractcaused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of the ulcerated area, the severityand number of ulcers, conserving the mucus content. Therewas also a decrease in the volume, free acidity and presence of cellularelements in gastric content respect to the control group; total acidity was notaffected. These preliminary results suggest that the wild yacon could havebenefical gastroprotective and antisecretory effects. Additional studies areneeded to determinate the active compounds and mechanisms involved.